Hi BLT - glad to hear that!
I saw Dr. Ferkel last Thursday. The big take-away for me from that (as well as from seeing an HSS doctor earlier last week) was that I shouldn't start with OATS. A couple of people have told me now (and this makes sense) that each doctor tends to recommend the thing they happen to do the most, and feel successful with. However, in my case the consensus view is that OATS would be too aggressive as a place to start.
Unfortunately by the time I actually saw Dr. Ferkel (it was 4:15 from a 2:15 appointment time), I was really tired (I had left NYC at 4am that same day), and so I didn't do a great job of digging into questions about the actual repair procedure he wanted to do with me. I basically understand it was some form of MF/lighter drilling, with the possibility of juvenile cartilage (interestingly he never called it de novo, and further research has told me the general term seems to be PJCAT for particulated juvenile cartilage...something transfer). He did invite me to ask follow up questions after the appointment, so I have sent some by email and hope to hear back from him or his Fellow (Dr. Ni, who I also really liked) shortly.
Where this puts me: I'm now just trying to figure out which repair procedure and by whom. So far the HSS docs all use bio cartilage and say they have stopped using the de novo stuff. I am told its because its harder to work with (as well as more expensive). Ferkel couldn't comment on the difference because he said he had never used bio cartilage.
I am now on my way to Baltimore for an appointment today with Dr. Schon. At that point, plus the follow up questions with Ferkel, I think I'll have all the info I am going to reasonably get / need to try to make a decision.
After my appointment with Dr. Ferkel I spent the weekend with my Dad in Palm Springs. And, of course, since part of my brain still asks whether I can't just live with this instead of having surgery, I went for 3 hikes of approx 2 hours each over 3 days. I was able to do them, but not at my normal level of confidence and comfort (these are hikes I've been on before), and when I got back to NYC on Monday I was in a ton of pain. For me, the pain is often a day after the activity - not during the activity. So as frightened as I am by surgery, I think its time.
How are you doing?
Kerri
